# I designed a crypto-powered digital diploma and won $1,000

I wanted to solve the credential verification problem between online learners and platforms like Udemy, EdX, and Coursera. Learners currently receive only an image of a diploma, and there is no interoperability between platforms. This devalues an online degree for both the student and the platform as the learner's certificate cannot be platform-agnostically verified.

I proposed Cryptdegree to solve this problem. It would offer a SaaS API that would mint an NFT diploma for a learner once they receive their degree; this NFT would contain encrypted data about the learner and their degree that could be trustlessly verified.

I won the 48HL grand prize of $1,000, and I received individual mentoring from the fintech sponsor of the prize.

### The Logo

I made the logo myself in around an hour using Illustrator. It's the best part of the pitch.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698292756616/0b6d0f5a-3a2f-466e-9f67-46d06dd00fe8.png align="center")

### The Mockup

I created an example of the page used to verify a learner's credentials, here using their first name, last name, and birthday for cross-referencing.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698292802486/e661ae6f-e271-4115-90fc-29ae749f43f1.png align="center")

### The Pitch Deck

Presented through an online video submission. Because it was due over vacation, I was *enormously* intoxicated while recording.

1. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293255514/c6d3d272-a754-4acf-9d0b-14b0587c799d.png align="center")
    
2. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293262743/e42eac0b-40d4-4e38-aa5e-50602ef91999.png align="center")
    
3. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293270060/e0edf378-baf8-4489-a86c-da060c10d25c.png align="center")
    
4. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293274867/a5669935-a404-4abe-a2f5-318f9cd9ca75.png align="center")
    
5. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293279991/87a54e31-6bdd-474e-8b10-a96fad3a6331.png align="center")
    
6. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293286138/7e51258c-45ca-4f10-bb9e-ce2cd9f7a6e1.png align="center")
    
7. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293292071/daa50364-445c-4d55-b39a-da7154362a2c.png align="center")
    
8. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1698293297499/a4b70253-8ab6-467c-be1b-383cebf9d235.png align="center")
    

### Reflection

Though I would never build Cryptdegree, I could see why it is valuable. I believe that crypto can be an extremely useful tool when it is used as a *tool*, rather than as a means to an end. I'm not a big fan of cryptocurrencies, as you can imagine.